Federal Government tells same-sex couples not to wed in ACT

Owen Jacques is an award-winning investigative journalist from Mackay, now based on the Sunshine Coast as APN Australian Regional Media’s Online News Editor. He has a strong background reporting on politics, business and breaking news. Owen has also specialised in resources reporting, which included a successful campaign to fight 100% fly-in, fly-out mining in rural Queensland towns.

THE Federal Government has told same-sex couples in the ACT not to act on new laws granting them the right to marry because it will be "very distressing" for them when the unions are ruled invalid by its High Court challenge.

The ACT Parliament, led by Labor chief minister Katy Gallagher, supported the changes after the Marriage Equality Bill 2013 was introduced last month and passed on Tuesday.

Labor holds power in the minority government only thanks to the support of lone ACT Greens member Shane Rattenbury who cast the deciding vote.

Attorney-General Simon Corbell congratulated the Parliament for sending a message that same-sex couples were entitled to the same rights as their heterosexual counterparts.

"Today's Bill shows clearly and unambiguously that all people are entitled to respect, dignity, the right to participate in society and to receive the full protection of the law, regardless of sexual orientation," Mr Corbell said.

But the joy may be short-lived, with a spokesman for the Federal Attorney-General George Brandis confirming the Federal Government reaffirming that it would fight the laws because they did not align with national marriage laws.

Mr Brandis will ask the High Court to hear the matter as soon as possible.

"Irrespective of anyone's views on the desirability or otherwise of same-sex marriage, it is clearly in Australia's interests that there be nationally consistent marriage laws," a spokesman said.

"It would be very distressing to individuals who may enter into a ceremony of marriage under the new ACT law, and to their families, to find that their marriages were invalid."

Mr Corbell said he expected the first weddings to be held before the end of the year, regardless of the looming challenge.

After the laws were passed, John Paul Young's Love is in the Air was sung in the public gallery.